While Pulido isn’t always clear how many terms in office he’s had as mayor, he was keen this election cycle in telling residents and supporters that his long tenure has helped him secure many federal and state appropriations as well as private sector investments in Santa Ana as the county seat.

He points to the Discovery Science Center as one of his proudest accomplishments as well as a host of private sector developments across Santa Ana as reasons why voters should keep him in office.

Pulido’s long tenure in office attracted fire throughout a year-long campaign from Amezcua, who accused Pulido of a similar approach to those used by leaders in the scandalized city of Bell.

Amezcua, a longtime attorney in Santa Ana, accused Pulido of using his mayoral post to enrich himself and painted a portrait of Pulido as an official aimed more at wealthy developers than quality of life.

He threatened to hold a complete audit of city government operations once in office and promised a more grassroots approach to city policies.

While Pulido had a hard-fought campaign, three other council members — Michele Martinez, Sal Tinajero and David Benavides — didn’t attract many challengers.